About 100,000 metro Detroiters may have to seek care somewhere other than a Beaumont hospital if the fight isn't resolved by Dec. 31.

Written by

Patricia Anstett
Detroit Free Press Medical Writer

A dispute between the Beaumont Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is being watched closely all over the state, as health chiefs wonder: Will cardholders with the state's largest insurer still be able to get care at most Michigan hospitals?

The fight spilled into the public in October, when the Royal Oak-based hospital system and the Blues took out full-page ads to convey their side of the issue.

If the dispute is not resolved, Beaumont -- starting Jan. 12 -- will no longer will accept the insurance of about 100,000 people insured through Blue Care Network, a Blue Cross ...